Europe’s Best Beaches Then and Now

July 17, 2015

There’s no denying that our favourite holiday destinations are changing with every passing year. But what did some of Europe’s leading beaches actually look like in decades past? Take a look with our collection of visual history – holiday hotspots, then and now…

Fuengirola, Malaga

Fuengirola, one of Costa del Sol’s most popular beaches, was already a busy holiday hotspot in 1950:

Fuengirola in 2015 – still a family favourite, and with good reason. The beaches feel calmer, but still clean and friendly:

Torremolinos

One of the most popular beaches in Andalusia had a different look in 1960:

Today, it’s a busy resort, full of life with a city skyline that has sprung up over the decades – though the gorgeous beach is still very much a part of the picture:

Paradise Beach, Mykonos

In the 1970s, this relatively unknown Greek island beach was a haven for hippies and travellers.

In 2015, the Mykonos beaches are bustling and full of party-seekers—after all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a nice cold cocktail on this crystal-clear cove?

Llloret De Mar

Around the turn of the 20th century, Lloret De Mar was a small fishing village:

These days, it’s a haven for holidaymakers, with hotels and amenities all within an arm’s reach of the sea—though you can still disappear into the nearby hills to get away from it all: